James Alex Fields Jr is seen participating in the ‘Unite the Right’ rally before his arrest in Charlottesville.

Fields, 20, addresses packed Virginia courthouse by video link from county jail in first public appearance since since being charged

The 20-year-old is accused of mowing down a crowd of anti-fascist protesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer, a local paralegal, and injuring 19 others after 48 hours of violence in Charlottesville that has again exposed America’s fractured race relations to the world.

Fields appeared before the circuit judge Robert Downer by video link from the county jail on a small screen, dressed in a black and white striped jumpsuit, his head bowed for much of the short arraignment hearing.

“Mr Fields, you are charged with a number of felonies, including murder and malicious wounding,” Downer told the inmate, who wore the undercut hairstyle synonymous with the “alt-right”.

Fields answered in short sentences as Downer ran quickly through the hearing. The court heard how the young man from Ohio earned a bi-monthly salary of $650 from employment in Ohio.

The US army has said that Fields signed up for basic training in August 2015 but was “released from active duty due to a failure to meet training standards” four months later.

Asked if he had any ties to the community in Charlottesville, Fields, staring into the camera, replied: “No, sir.”

The public defender’s office could not represent Fields, the court heard, as attorneys working in the office had relatives wounded in the attack. Fields was assigned a local attorney, Charles Webber, by the court and told he would remain in custody until a bond hearing later in the month.

The public defense attorney next up (on the wheel as they call it) could not represent Fields b/c the attorney had relatives associated with the event/march, so Weber was appointed at Fields' arraignment. I've been wondering why Weber is not listed as representing Fields.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (NEWSPLEX) -- Former Albemarle County Commonwealth's Attorney Denise Lunsford has been appointed to represent 20-year-old Ohio resident James Fields, Jr., who has been charged with second-degree murder and malicious wounding in an Aug. 12 car attack that killed 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injured 19 others.

Lunsford replaces Fields' first court-appointed attorney Charles "Buddy" Weber, who is a spokesperson for the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the City of Charlottesville over the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue in Emancipation Park.

A special agent with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force said the suspect accused of killing a Charlottesville protester will not face domestic terror charges, since the federal statute does not outline penalties for the crime.

ETA:However, after posting this I read another article where AG Sessions says Fields may be charged with a federal hate crime. Sessions said there is no rush, in making that decision, until the investigation is completed.

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Last edited by Molly on Fri Sep 15, 2017 12:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

I hope along with you that it is updated. Although most documents are repetitive, plain vanilla or hard to read, maybe one or two will spark interest down the road closer to trial. Still looking for a Virginia site with official court documents.

I think this case is OVERCHARGED... as often happens... this should not be a MURDER (2nd degree) case

I think overcharging is a common Prosecutors TRICK. They incorporate "lesser included charges" and play for a "Consolation Verdict" from a Jury.

I have often opined that Prosecutors should be LIMITED if they opt to overcharge.....eg in this case... They should have to PROVE Murder beyond reasonable doubt.... or the Defendant is NOT GUILTY ...acquitted

This is a SINGLE EVENT...... Again, it is a prosecutor ploy to list a whole bunch of charges.IF the prosecutors PROVE that Fields ploughed into a crowd of people with premeditation and evil intent.. then he is GUILTY... responsible for the death and all the injuries and damage (at least damage IN FRONT of the car... I would still dispute that he is in any way responsible for injuries to people who ran to put themselves in the path of a reversing car).... OR... if he was in fear of his life and reacted with no malice ... purely for the sake of his own safety...... Then he is NOT GUILTY... of ALL OF IT.

_________________Do not go gentle into that good night.___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light